Light-emitting diode with textured substrate

ABSTRACT

A light-emitting diode (LED) device is provided. The LED device has raised semiconductor regions formed on a substrate. LED structures are formed over the raised semiconductor regions such that bottom contact layers and active layers of the LED device are conformal layers. The top contact layer has a planar surface. In an embodiment, the top contact layers are continuous over a plurality of the raised semiconductor regions while the bottom contact layers and the active layers are discontinuous between adjacent raised semiconductor regions.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/189,635, entitled “Light-Emitting Diode with Textured Substrate,” filed on Aug. 11, 2008, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to semiconductor device manufacturing processes, and more particularly to forming crystalline group-III nitride films on silicon substrates.

BACKGROUND

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are manufactured by forming active regions on a substrate and by depositing various conductive and semiconductive layers on the substrate. The radiative recombination of electron-hole pairs can be used for the generation of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light) by the electric current in a p-n junction. In a forward-biased p-n junction fabricated from a direct band gap material, such as GaAs or GaN, the recombination of the electron-hole pairs injected into the depletion region causes the emission of electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation may be in the visible range or may be in a non-visible range. Different colors of LEDs may be created by using materials with different band gaps. Further, an LED with electromagnetic radiation emitting in a non-visible range may direct the non-visible light towards a phosphor lens or a like material type. When the non-visible light is absorbed by the phosphor, the phosphor emits a visible light.

LEDs are typically manufactured on a sapphire substrate (Al₂O₃) for Group III-N compound LED structures because the crystal orientation of the sapphire substrate allows the Group III-N compounds to be epitaxially grown on the sapphire substrate. Sapphire substrates, however, are expensive as compared to silicon substrates. Also, sapphire substrates are typically characterized by thermal accumulation due to the low thermal conductivity of sapphire.

Furthermore, LEDs are typically formed on a planar substrate, thereby resulting in a planar LED structure. A planar LED structure limits the amount of light-emitting material that may be placed on a given size of substrate. Furthermore, the planar surfaces allow the light to be waveguided and trapped within the device, resulting in reduction of extraction efficiency. (See Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 153 2 G105-G107 2006.) As a result, the light emitting efficiency of an LED of a given size is restricted.

Attempts have been made to form LEDs having a non-planar surface in an attempt to increase the amount of light-emitting area on a given size of substrate and spoil waveguiding phenomenon. These attempts result in an LED structure in which the top surface of the LED structure is also non-planar. As a result, a planar surface is not available upon which an electrical contact may be formed on the top Group III-N layer.

Accordingly, there is a need for an LED device having an increased light efficiency with a suitable surface upon which an electrical contact may be formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other problems are generally reduced, solved or circumvented, and technical advantages are generally achieved, by embodiments of the present invention, which provides light-emitting diodes (LEDs) having a planar surface.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an LED device is provided. The LED device includes a substrate having raised regions formed thereon, wherein the raised regions comprise a semiconductor material. An LED structure is positioned over the raised regions such that the first contact layer is discontinuous between adjacent raised regions. An active layer is over the first contact layer, and a second contact layer is over the active layer such that the second contact layer has a planar surface.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming an LED device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate and forming raised regions thereon. A first contact layer is formed over the raised regions, and an active layer is formed over the first contact layer, such that the active layer has a non-planar surface. Thereafter, the step of forming a second contact layer over the active layer such that the second contact layer has a planar surface is performed.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming an LED device is provided. The method includes providing substrates and forming a dielectric layer over the substrate. The dielectric layer is patterned to form a patterned mask that defines openings in which the substrate is exposed. Thereafter, the steps of forming raised regions on the exposed substrate in the openings and forming an LED structure on the raised regions are performed such that the top contact layer of the LED structure has a planar surface while the bottom contact layer has a non-planar surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 a-5 b illustrate various intermediate process steps of manufacturing a light-emitting diode device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of the presently preferred embodiments are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.

A novel method for forming light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and the resulting structures are provided. The intermediate stages of manufacturing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. It should be understood that steps necessary to illustrate the inventive aspects of the invention are shown, but other processes may be performed. Throughout the various views and illustrative embodiments of the present invention, like reference numbers are used to designate like elements.

FIGS. 1 a-5 b illustrate various intermediate process steps of a portion of a wafer 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the “a” figures represent a cross-section view of the wafer 100 along the indicated line on the “b” figures, which is the corresponding plan view of the wafer 100.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the wafer 100 is shown as including a substrate 102 with an overlying mask layer 104. The substrate 102 is preferably a bulk semiconductor substrate doped with a dopant of a first conductivity type, preferably having a (100) surface orientation. It should be noted that while embodiments of the present invention are described in the context of using a bulk silicon substrate, other substrates may be used. For example, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates, sapphire substrates, SiC substrates, and the like may also be used. Embodiments of the present invention, however, may be particularly suited to silicon substrates due to the low cost in addition to reducing the residual stress in the LED structure formed thereon. Furthermore, while a substrate having a (100) surface orientation is preferred, substrates having a different surface orientation, such as (110) surface orientation, may also be used. Silicon substrates may also improve the extraction efficiency and allow a selective group III-N epitaxial growth process to be used.

The mask layer 104 is preferably a hard mask comprising one or more dielectric layers. In an embodiment, a silicon dioxide layer formed by, for example, thermal oxidation or by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques using tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate (TEOS) and oxygen as precursor. Alternatively, the mask layer 104 may be formed of other dielectric materials. For example, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or the like formed through a process such as CVD may also be used. A multi-layer hard mask, such as layers of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride, may also be used. The mask layer 104 preferably has a thickness of about 100 Å to about 50,000 Å.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the mask layer 104 (see FIGS. 1 a and 1 b) is subsequently patterned to form a patterned mask 206 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the mask layer 104 is patterned using photolithography techniques known in the art. Generally, photolithography techniques involve depositing a photoresist material and irradiating the photoresist material in accordance with a pattern. Thereafter, the photoresist material is developed to remove a portion of the photoresist material. The remaining photoresist material protects the underlying material during subsequent processing steps, such as etching.

In this case, the photoresist material is utilized to create the patterned mask 206 that defines a matrix of openings 208 that expose the underlying substrate 102. Each opening preferably has a height h of about 100 Å to about 50,000 Å and a width w of about 0.02 μm to about 10 μm. It should be noted that the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 b illustrates square openings for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments may use any suitable shape, including rectangles, circles, ovals, triangles, and/or the like. Furthermore, other embodiments may not be arranged in a matrix formed by rows and columns, but rather may include openings in a patterned, staggered, or the like arrangement.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate the wafer 100 after raised regions 302 have been formed in the openings 208 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the raised regions 302 are formed by selective epitaxial growth (SEG) of silicon (Si) or silicon germanium (SiGe). In this manner, the epitaxial growth of the raised regions 302 will be limited to the exposed regions of the substrate 102 as defined by the openings 208 because the epitaxial growth will not occur on the patterned mask 206, which are formed of a dielectric material such as SiO₂.

Preferably, the process parameters are adjusted such that the raised regions 302 form a pyramidal or trapezoidal form. Using a process temperature of about 600° C., and more preferably higher than about 700° C., during the epitaxial growth may enhance the formation of the pyramidal or trapezoidal form. It has been found that these shapes results in a (111) surface orientation on the raised regions 302 and that the (111) surface orientation provides a more suitable surface for epitaxially forming a GaN contact layer for the LED structure as discussed in greater detail below. It should be noted that it is preferred that the raised regions 302 formed by selective epitaxial growth extend over the entire surface of the exposed substrate 102 within the openings 208 such that the substrate 102, which has a different surface orientation, is not exposed within the openings 208.

FIGS. 4 a-4-b illustrate the wafer 100 after a first contact layer 402 and an active layer 404 have been formed over the raised regions 302 within the openings 208 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the first contact layer 402 is formed of a group III-N compound doped with a dopant of the first conductivity type (e.g., n-GaN) and may be disposed by, for example, a selective epitaxial growth process such as a molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE), metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HYPE), liquid phase epitaxy (LPE), or the like. The group III-N material may include, for example, GaN, InN, AlN, In_(x)Ga_((1-x))N, Al_(x)Ga_((1-x))N, Al_(x)In_(y)Ga_((1-x-y))N, or the like.

The active layer 404 is disposed on the first contact layer 402. The active layer 404 may comprise multiple quantum wells (MQW) and acts as an active layer for emitting light. MQW structures in active layer 404, may be layers of InGaN and GaN, for example. MQWs in active layer 404 may be disposed in an epitaxial reactor.

Because the patterned mask 206 is formed of a dielectric material such as SiO₂, growth of the first contact layer 402 and the active layer 404 is limited to surfaces of the raised regions 302. The growth over the raised regions 302 is substantially uniform, thereby resulting in the first contact layer 402 and the active layer 404 having a non-planar surface topology. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the non-planar surface topology of the first contact layer 402 and the active layer 404 increases the exposed surface area as compared to the planar surface of the substrate 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1 a. In this manner the light emitting efficiency of the LED device is increased.

FIGS. 5 a-5 b illustrate the wafer 100 after a second contact layer 502 has been formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the second contact layer 502 extends over the raised regions 302 (including the overlying first contact layer 402 and the active layer 404) as well as the patterned mask 206 and has a substantially planar surface. The second contact layer 502 is preferably formed of a group III-N compound doped with a dopant of a second conductivity type (e.g., p-GaN) and may be formed by a process similar to the first contact layer 402, such as a selective epitaxial growth process.

The second contact layer 502 is formed such that the second contact layer 502 extends over the patterned mask 206. The thickness of the second contact layer 502 is about 1,000 Å to about 5,000 Å The planar surface of the second contact layer 502 may be formed by forming the second contact layer 502 to a thickness greater than the desired thickness and then performing a planarization process, such as a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. Alternatively, the second contact layer 502 may be formed by a process that results in a substantially planar surface, such as a metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE).

Thereafter, processes may be performed to complete the LED device. For example, electrical contacts (front-side and/or back-side contacts) may be formed to the first and second contact layers 402 and 502, respectively, passivation layers may be formed, and the LED device may be diced and packaged.

It should also be noted that the above description assumes a backside contact for the first contact layer 402, which typically uses a doped substrate 102. In situations in which a front-side contact is utilized to provide an electrical contact to the first contact layer 402, an undoped substrate 102 may be used.

It should also be noted that the above description describes a method of forming LED devices on a textured substrate. Other layers, such as a distributed Bragg reflector or a buffer layer, may be desirable. Depending upon the type of substrate and the connections to the first and second contact layers 402 and 502, respectively, a buffer layer may also be desirable between the first contact layer 402 and the substrate 102. For example, with some types of substrates, such as SiC and Si substrates, a buffer layer, such as AlN or AlGaN, may be desirable to aid in the epitaxial growth of a group III-N compound on the SiC substrate. A distributed Bragg reflector generally comprises multiple layers having different refractive indices that causes light emitted from the LED structures to be reflected, thereby increasing the light emitted from the top of the LED device. A reflective buffer layer may also be used with or in place of the distributed Bragg reflector.

The structure of the LED structures may also vary depending on the type of materials used and the intended application. It is expected that the many types of LED structures may be used with embodiments of the present invention, which provides concave recesses in a substrate in which LED structures may be formed.

Advantageously, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that due to the non-planar interface between the second contact layer 502 and the active layer 404, the light emitting surface area of the LED device is increased as compared to a planar MQW occupying the same chip area. As a result, the light emitting efficiency is increased.

Also advantageously, the surface of the second contact layer 502 is substantially planar. The substantially planar surface of the second contact layer 502 allows a top electrical contact to be made more easily than with a textured top surface of a second contact layer.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A light-emitting diode (LED) device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; raised regions formed on the semiconductor substrate, the raised regions comprising a semiconductor material; a first contact layer over the raised regions, the first contact layer having a non-planar surface, wherein the first contact layer is discontinuous between adjacent raised regions; a non-planar active layer over the first contact layer; and a second contact layer over the active layer, the second contact layer having a planar surface and being continuous over the raised regions.
 2. The LED device of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric region interposed between adjacent raised regions.
 3. The LED device of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises a bulk silicon substrate.
 4. The LED device of claim 3, wherein the bulk silicon substrate has a (100) surface orientation.
 5. The LED device of claim 1, wherein the raised regions comprise SiGe.
 6. A light-emitting diode (LED) device comprising: a first contact layer on a substrate, the first contact layer having a uniform thickness and a non-planar surface; an active layer over the first contact layer, the active layer having a uniform thickness; a second contact layer over the active layer, the second contact layer having a planar surface and a varying thickness; dielectric material interposed between adjacent ones of the active layers; and one or more additional contact layers and one or more additional active layers, the second contact layer extending over the active layer and the one or more additional active layers.
 7. The LED device of claim 6, further comprising dielectric material interposed between adjacent ones of the first contact layers.
 8. The LED device of claim 6, wherein the substrate comprises a bulk silicon substrate having a (100) surface orientation.
 9. The LED device of claim 6, wherein the first contact layer overlies a SiGe region.
 10. A light-emitting diode (LED) device comprising: a plurality of first contact layers, each of the first contact layer having a non-planar surface; a plurality of non-planar active layers, each of the non-planar active layers being over a respective one of the plurality of first contact layers; and a second contact layer over the plurality of non-planar active layers; a dielectric layer interposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of first contact layers or between adjacent ones of the plurality of non-planar active layers.
 11. The LED device of claim 10, wherein the second contact layer has a planar upper surface.
 12. The LED device of claim 10, wherein the dielectric layer extends above the plurality of non-planar active layers.
 13. The LED device of claim 10, further comprising a substrate below the plurality of first contact layers, the substrate comprising a bulk silicon substrate having a (100) surface orientation.
 14. The LED device of claim 10, wherein the first contact layer overlies a SiGe region.
 15. The LED device of claim 14, wherein the SiGe region has a varying thickness. 